ARGYRASPIDES, in Antiquity, Persons armed with Silver Bucklers, or Bucklers silvered. See BUCKLER.
The Argyraspides, according to Quintus Curtius, Lib. iv. c. 13, made the second Corps of Alexander's Army, the first were the Phalanx. See PHALANX.
According to Justin’s Account, Lib. xii. c. 7, Alexander having penetrated into India, and extended his Empire as far as the Ocean; for a Monument of his Glory, ordered the Armour of his Soldiers, and the Housings of his Horses, to be adorned with Silver: and hence commanded them to be called Argyraspides; from the Greek ἄργυρος, Silver, and ἀσπίς, Buckler.
By this Author it should seem that Alexander's whole Army was called Argyraspides—After that Prince’s Death, the Argyraspides despised all other Chiefs of the Army, disdaining to obey any other after having borne Arms under Alexander.
